THE 10th Annual Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)-organised Castrol-sponsored Under-15 limited overs Inter-county competition was launched at a simple ceremony held in the GCB’s boardroom yesterday morning to the tune of G$1.6M.

In his brief remarks, brand manager Leonard Khan of Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), the local distributor of Castrol, said his company viewed the sponsorship of the tournament which is being used as a yardstick to select the national Under-15 team for the West Indies Cricket Board Regional tournament, as a corporate responsibility. “This tournament is not only used to make the cricketers better players, but can also be used to groom them to be better individuals to serve society and we at GUYOIL through our Castrol brand, would always continue to help the GCB groom them through our sponsorship.”

Khan also lauded the GCB’s competitions committee for de-centralising the matches, stating that such a gesture can help in the motivation of the players as some of them would be playing in front of their friends and family in their own community.

Vice-president of the GCB, Faizal Bacchus, who is deputising for ailing president Chetram Singh, expressed heartfelt thanks to the sponsors for their continued partnership with the governing body for cricket in Guyana, stating that same displays the sponsors’ confidence in the GCB.

The tournament is set to commence on March 9, with Demerara facing Essequibo at the Anna Regina Community Centre ground on that day and the following day, before the Cinderella County turn their attention to Berbice whom they face on March 12 and 13 at the Enmore and Uitvlugt grounds respectively.
Berbice, who are the defending champions, will then face their nemesis, Demerara, on March 15 and 16, at the Enterprise Community Centre and Demerara Cricket Club grounds respectively.

Meanwhile, Chronicle Sport was reliably informed that the WICB is requesting the names of the Guyana team for the Regional Under-15 tournament which is being hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, by March 12.

On that date, Berbice and Essequibo will be engaged in a battle at the Enmore Community Centre ground and with the WICB deadline in place, it only means that any late performer will find himself on the sidelines.

The Regional tournament commences next month, with the Guyana team set to leave on March 27, and according to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GCB Mr. Terrence Holder, who chaired yesterday’s proceedings, trial matches as well as an encampment period will be executed prior to the team’s departure.

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